Akwa Ibom : Free Kufre Carter- NANS Demands
National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has questioned what it tagged as illegal detention of an incarcerated journalist, Mr Kufre Carter and demanded for the immediate release of the journalist.
This is contained in a solidarity statement made by the president of the association, Comrade Danielson Bamidele Akpan and made available to the newsmen .
Read the full write up of the solidarity speech ;
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FREE KUFRE CARTER!
Kufre Carter is a young journalist working with a radio station in Uyo. He was invited by the State Security Service (SSS) Akwa Ibom State Command on Monday 27th April, 2020. The hardworking and committed Kufre honoured the invitation. He went to the office by himself.
Fortunately, the invitation was about an interview he allegedly conducted over the phone with one of the medical doctors in the state. The subject matter bothers on the outbreak of the coronavirus and unknown diseases ravaging the state and the manner in which it is being handled by the state government.
You may recall that the governor Udom Emmanuel sacked the state epistemologist in a controversial manner. All of these could only arouse curiosity among the public.
As such, Kufre had conducted investigation, upon which he was invited by the SSS.
Invitation by the security is never a problem nor does it make an individual a criminal.
But to our greatest dismay, Kufre Carter has remained in the custody of the SSS for 2 weeks. He has not been allowed interaction with family, friends, associates or even lawyers.
A black market court arraignment was made where the magistrate demanded for outrageous bail conditions which poor Kufre cannot meet. How possible is it for a permanent secretary working with the state government to come secure Kufre in this circumstance?
The question now is, who wants Kufre Carter incarcerated?
What’s the offense of Kufre?
Why denying his friends, family, lawyers access to Kufre?
Is it wrong to conduct investigation into health related issues?
I have seen a video of Kufre’s aged mother trending on social media, where in she alleged that she has been denied access to her son. She has also accused the state government under governor Udom Emmanuel of not paying her gratuity since retirement. The helpless woman described Kufre as her life wire and source of survival.
Having reliably been informed that governor Udom Emmanuel is interested in the matter, I love to respectfully appeal to you to release Kufre. Lest you forget, Kufre and family are part of the people you claimed gave you mandate to govern the state in the last election.
May I also remind you that ONLY GOD is powerful. In your Dakkada creed, you said “rise to the faith that as a people, we can move beyond ethnicity, biases, religion, and gender.
Rise to togetherness”.
Let me add that you rise to the reality that you’re not to oppress but to govern. Do those things that history will be fair to you.
Release Kufre Carter!
Comr. Danielson Bamidele Akpan, GCNS
NANS Global President”
